Combination holddown finger and plate separator for self-leveling plate dispensers

ABSTRACT

A holddown finger for use with disposable paper or plastic plates being dispensed in a self-leveling well-type plate dispenser is described. An arcuate holddown finger presses reactively against a plurality of the uppermost plates in an inverted stack in the dispenser well, at one side thereof, to separate them in fanlike fashion at the other side for easy withdrawal in a dispensing operation.

United States Patent Shelle Feb. 15 1972 [54] COMBINATION HOLDDOWN FINGER 2,980,289 4/1961 Pick ..221/279 AND PLATE SEPARATOR FOR SELF- 2,521,036 9/1950 Brill ..3l2/7l LEVELING PLATE DISPENSERS Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman [72] Inventor: sie org e sggllley 4225 NW. 72nd Ave., Anamey Emest Schmidt mm, a. [22] Filed: May 8, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 35,771 A holddown finger for use with disposable paper or plastic plates being dispensed in a self-leveling well-type plate [52] U S C 221/226 221/279 dispenser is described. An arcuate holddown finger presses [51] In. .0 B,6sh U08 reactively against a plurality of the uppermost plates in an 53] Fieid 0i's;;;;;i;'.'.11..............L1i'i7$"358538 59,60 stack in the disPenser Side the'wfl m 21/226430 31,1 5 5 separate them in fanlike fashion at the other side for easy withdrawal in a dispensing operation.

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 813,594 2/1906 Sexton ..221/52 F /7 /a 20 w /5 A? X 5 COMBINATION HOLDDOWN FINGER AND PLATE SEPARATOR FOR SELF-LEVELIN G PLATE DISPENSERS This invention relates to self-leveling plate or dish dispensers of the type used in cafeterias and restaurants, for example, and is directed particularly to a combination holddown finger and separator for use in such dispensers as an aid in presenting, for convenient withdrawal, the plates being dispensed, particularly disposable formed paper or formed sheet plastic plates.

The use of self-leveling plate dispensers in the form of cylindrical wells for receiving stacked plates to be dispensed and comprising spring mechanism operative to push the stacked plates upwardly in the well to a level at the top of the stack from which the uppermost plate can readily be grasped for use is well known. With the use of china plates, their thickness and rigidity is such that the top plate can readily be grasped and separated from the remainder of the stack in a dispensing operation. However, with the use of comparatively thin,

lightweight, disposable plates, such as of pressed paperboard or formed sheet plastic material, it is very often difficult to separate the top plate from the stack. This is due not only to the thinness of the plate, but also because they are .so tightly packed that atmospheric pressure tends to make them adhere to one another.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a combination holddown finger and plate separator for plate dispensers which serves to vertically fan out or separate paper or plastic plates at the top of the dispenser stack so that the uppermost plate can readily be grasped and removed in a dispensing operation.

A more particular object is to provide a combination holddown finger and plate separator for disposable paper or plastic plates comprising a press finger arranged at one side of the dispensing well opening rim and operative to abuttingly engage marginal underside portions of upside down stacked plates, and thereby compress such plate portions in clamping relation against the resilient leveling spring pushing the plate stack upwardly from underneath, whereby a plurality of the topmost plates being dispensed will be spread out in fanlike disposition in the vertical direction at the opposite side of the press finger for ready grip and removal one at a time of the top plate in the stack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination holddown finger and plate separator of the character described that can readily be displaced from its projecting position over the top opening of the dispensing well to permit refilling of the well with a new stack of plates whenever necessary, without obstruction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a holddown finger device of the character described which will be simple in construction, compact, easy to install and operate, and foolproof, effective and durable in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a partial oblique view, as seen from above of a cabinet structure housing a self-leveling plate dispenser equipped with a combination holddown finger and plate Separator embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates in side elevation and with portions broken away to show interior structure, a self-leveling plate dispenser equipped with the combination holddown finger and plate separator, illustrating the operation thereof in separating the uppermost plates of a stack being dispensed;

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows, illustrating constructional and operational details of theholddown finger and plate separator mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is a partial oblique view of an upper portion of the selfleveling dish dispenser well illustrating, in exploded relation with respect thereto, the mechanism by means of which the finger device is attached to the well rim.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 designates, generally, a combination holddown finger and plate separator embodying the invention applied to the cylindrical well 1 l of a typical self-leveling plate dispenser. The holddown finger and plate separator mechanism 10 is adjustably attached to the peripheral flange 12 at the upper end of the cylindrical dispenser well 1 1, which flange, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, seats down upon a marginal annular portion about a receiving opening in the top wall of a housing 14, (see FIGS. 1 and 3), within which the well 11 is supportingly suspended.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the combination holddown finger and plate separator comprises a press finger 15, which may be of bent sheet metal stock, for example of stainless steel, having a flat central portion 16, an arcuately upturned outer end portion 17, and an inner, right-angular, downturned end portion 18. The central portion 16 of the press finger 15 is provided with a transversely centrally located circular opening or bore 19, near the downturned end portion 18. A headed stud 20 having a cylindrical shank portion 21 freely receivable within the press finger opening 19, the outer end of which shank portion extends into a reduced diameter, externally threaded stud portion 22, serves to retain said press finger in operating position with respect to the dispenser well 11. To this end, the peripheral rim 12 of the dispenser well 11 is provided with an elongated, radially extending stud slot 22a for through passage of the reduced diameter threaded stud portion 22. In assembly of the pressed finger 15 in place, a helical compression spring 23 circumjacently disposed on the headed stud shank portion 21 and constrained between the underside of said press finger and the peripheral rim 12, serves to normally retain the upturned arcuate outer end portion 17 of said press finger in its uppermost position when the assemblage is secured'in place from underneath the peripheral rim, 12 by a nut 24. In this connection it will be noted, with reference to'FIG. 3, thatthe length or height of the cylindrical shank portion 21 of the headed stud 12 is substantially the same as the-height of the downtuned inner end portion 18 of the press finger 15 so that the flat central portion 16 thereof will ordinarily remain in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the upper surface of the peripheral well flange or rim 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1,3 and 4, means in the form of a pair'of elongated, upwardly pressed bosses or projections 25, 26 in the peripheral rim 12 of cylindrical well 11, outwardly and to each side of the stud slot 22a, is provided for normally constraining the press finger 15 in the radially extending direction with respect to the circular opening at the upper end of the cylindrical well 11. The bosses or projection 25, 26 are disposed in close proximity with respect to the lateral ends of the downturned end portion 18 of the press finger 15 to prevent accidental or inadvertent turning of said press finger out of its radially extending position.

Considering now the operation of the combination holddown finger and plate separator it will be seen, particularly with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, that the stack of disposable plastic plates P to be dispensed from the dispenser well 11 is supported from underneath by a pusher head 27 constrained between the underside of which and the bottom of said well being a stressed compression spring 28. The plates P are stacked in upside down position, and the upwardly curved outer end portion 17 of the press finger 15 extends just far enough inwardly of the top circular opening of the well as to abuttingly engage the concavely arcuate peripheral edge portions of the plates P being dispensed, (see FIG. 3). This squeezing or clamping engagement of the stacked plates between the press finger 15 and the vertically stressed pusher head 27 in the well 11 has the effect of fanning out or vertically separating a plurality of the uppermost plates in the stack at the side opposite said press finger so that they can readily be grasped one at a time from the top in dispensing operations.

In this connection, it is to be noted that the spring rate of the helical spring 28, which is governed by the characteristics and size of the spring wire, the number of coils per unit length and the diameter of the coil; and the head load, which is governed by the overall length of the helical spring, will be such as to apply a substantially constant force at the bottom of the stacked plates P in the dispenser no matter how may plates remain in the stack. With such operation, the fanning out or spreading of the uppermost plates will always remain substantially uniform. It will be understood, of course, that the spring rate and head load in a given size dispenser will be substantially greater than that in an ordinary self-leveling dispenser, the extra spring pressure being required in the present invention to provide the above-described clamping or squeezing at one side of the stack resulting in the desired fanning out at the opposite side.

With reference to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the radially extending stud slot 22a in the well rim l2 permits limited in and out adjustment of the press finger with respect to the plate opening at the top of the dispenser well 11 to accommodate for best plate separation in a wide variety of plate edge shapes.

It is further to be noted that the assemblage of the holddown finger 15 to the peripheral flange 12 of the dispenser well is such that merely by pushing down upon the outer end portion 17, thereof the downturned end portion 18 will be tilted up so that said press finger can be turned either to the left or to the right, over one or the other of the projections 25, 26, and out of overlying or obstructing position with respect to the upper plate opening of said well, thereby facilitating the refilling of said dispenser with a new stack of plates to be dispensed whenever necessary.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form given by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A combination holddown finger and plate separator for self-leveling plate dispensers of the type having a vertically extending open-top well for receiving stacked plates to be dispensed and including mechanism normally resiliently constraining the stacked plates therein in the upward direction from underneath for dispensing, comprising, in combination; an elongated holddown finger member, and mechanism for so supporting said holddown finger with respect to the top opening of the dispenser well that an end portion thereof extends into said opening to engage end portions of the plate stack being dispensed with respect. to the plate constraining mechanism for separating a plurality of uppermost plates in the stack in fanlike fashion at a position opposite said holddown finger member, said holddown finger comprising a substantially flat body portion, said end portion extending arcuately upwardly of said central body portion, said holddown finger member further comprising a downturned inner end portion opposite said arcuate end portion, said holddown finger supporting mechanism comprising a stud bolt extending through an opening in said central body portion, and means for securing the outer end of said stud bolt with respect to the upper end of the dispenser well, said securing means comprising an outwardly extending peripheral flange at the upper end of the well and an opening in said flange through which said stud bolt extends, said stud bolt comprising a shank portion the outer end of which extends into a reduced diameter threaded end portion, said reduced diameter end portion being received through said opening in said well flange, and a nut received on said threaded stud end.

2. A combination holddown finger and plate separator as defined in claim 1, including a helical compression spring circumjacently disposed on said shank portion of said stud bolt 'and constrained between the underside of said central body portion of said holddown finger member and an upper surface portion of said well flange.

3. A combination ho ddown finger and plate separator as defined in claim 2, wherein said opening in said well flange is of elongated shape extending in the direction of said well opening for adjustably positioning said holddown finger member with respect to said well opening,

4. A combination holddown finger and plate separator as defined in claim 3, including abutment means in said well flange at each lateral end of said turned-down inner end portion of said holddown finger member for normally retaining said holddown finger member in said position whereat said arcuate outer end portion thereof extends into said opening. 

1. A combination holddown finger and plate separator for selfleveling plate dispensers of the type having a vertically extending open-top well for receiving stacked plates to be dispensed and including mechanism normally resiliently constraining the stacked plates therein in the upward direction from underneath for dispensing, comprising, in combination; an elongated holddown finger member, and mechanism for so supporting said holddown finger with respEct to the top opening of the dispenser well that an end portion thereof extends into said opening to engage end portions of the plate stack being dispensed with respect to the plate constraining mechanism for separating a plurality of uppermost plates in the stack in fanlike fashion at a position opposite said holddown finger member, said holddown finger comprising a substantially flat body portion, said end portion extending arcuately upwardly of said central body portion, said holddown finger member further comprising a downturned inner end portion opposite said arcuate end portion, said holddown finger supporting mechanism comprising a stud bolt extending through an opening in said central body portion, and means for securing the outer end of said stud bolt with respect to the upper end of the dispenser well, said securing means comprising an outwardly extending peripheral flange at the upper end of the well and an opening in said flange through which said stud bolt extends, said stud bolt comprising a shank portion the outer end of which extends into a reduced diameter threaded end portion, said reduced diameter end portion being received through said opening in said well flange, and a nut received on said threaded stud end.
 2. A combination holddown finger and plate separator as defined in claim 1, including a helical compression spring circumjacently disposed on said shank portion of said stud bolt and constrained between the underside of said central body portion of said holddown finger member and an upper surface portion of said well flange.
 3. A combination holddown finger and plate separator as defined in claim 2, wherein said opening in said well flange is of elongated shape extending in the direction of said well opening for adjustably positioning said holddown finger member with respect to said well opening.
 4. A combination holddown finger and plate separator as defined in claim 3, including abutment means in said well flange at each lateral end of said turned-down inner end portion of said holddown finger member for normally retaining said holddown finger member in said position whereat said arcuate outer end portion thereof extends into said opening. 